• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Healthy Little Cravings logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • about
  • recipes
  • food photography
  • photography education
  • contact
    • portfolio
  • ITA 🇮🇹
  • Italian
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • about
    • recipes
    • food photography
    • photography education
    • contact
      • portfolio
    • ITA 🇮🇹
    • Italian
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Healthy Little Cravings » Recipes » hygge food (indulgent) » Easy Swedish Meatballs With Gravy (Without Heavy Cream)

    · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Easy Swedish Meatballs With Gravy (Without Heavy Cream)

    Me and boyfriend are kinda obsessed with spending Sunday afternoons at Ikea. We love wandering and watching all the rooms and stuff they have. We also ate their famous meatballs with mashed potatoes a couple of times. Plus, you may know that, since we went visiting Göteborg last year, I'm kiiinda obsessed with Sweden and its baked goods (kardemummabullar *drooling*). So, how can I not develop my own recipe of easy Swedish meatballs (köttbullar) with a very simple gravy sauce?

    Go grab some ground meat to your butcher, and let's make these together!

    Jump to recipe

    P.S. I love Ikea's ones but these are better lol

    Easy Swedish meatballs  into a bowl with mashed potatoes
    Look how juicy: that gravy sauce is everything!

    How these (and the original ones) easy Swedish meatballs are made

    It was not a difficult recipe to "develop", actually. I was inspired by the original ones, which are made with: a combination of beef and pork, onion, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, pepper.

    As you can see, the list of ingredients is not bad, it's also not bad if you buy Ikea's ones every once in a while.

    What we don't know though is the origin of the meat. That's why I make my own: to have complete control of what I'm using (because I get the meat from my trusted butcher).

    Mashed potatoes and Easy Swedish meatballs  recipe
    A complete meal made in 10 minutes? Yup!

    Back to the question, how are my easy Swedish meatballs made (in 10 minutes)?

    • I first combine meat, onion, egg (yolk), breadcrumbs, salt and balck pepper.
    • I then use an ice cream scoop to form meatballs
    • I make them brown at medium heat, then cook at low heat. Remove from the pan. In about 10 minutes they're done!
    • If you want to also make a gravy: add the ingredients to the same pan, let thicken, then add meatballs.

    How can you not love a dinner that is ready in half an hour?

    Swedish meatballs inside a pan

    What to serve with Swedish meatballs

    We like to keep it simple here: I love serving these Swedish köttbullar with mashed potatoes and sautéed green veggies (like spinach, or chicory).

    For practical reasons (ahem, I mean I forgot to cook them), I haven't photographed them with veggies here, but I always love balancing our plate with greens.

    Want to make it even more Swedish? Serve with a bit of slightly sour lingonberry jam/sauce!

    Mashed potatoes with brown butter
    Easy-peasy mashed potatoes are perfect to serve with meatballs!

    Quick mashed potatoes recipe: 450 gr potatoes, 100 gr milk, 5/10 gr of butter (browned), salt.

    Brown your butter then mash the boiled potatoes into the pot, add hot milk, salt and stir until you get no clumps. Done!

    A Swedish meatball sauce without heavy cream

    I don't like buying stuff to then throw it away. That's usually the case of heavy cream. I mean, if I buy it for clients' recipes, then I'm going to use it. If I buy it for myself, I'm pretty sure I won't (it's not an ingredient that we normally consume).

    Having said that, most of meatballs sauces/gravy I've found out there are made with heavy cream (also sour cream). I wanted to use what I normally have at home.

    Gravy is usually made from the juices of meats, milk or broth and then thickened with flour or corn starch.

    This gravy is very basic indeed: I added some cornstarch to my pan that already had fat and a bit of juices, then gradually added broth (you can use both veggie or beef stock), a touch of milk and soy sauce to give that extra touch. Easy-peasy!

    Easy Swedish meatballs  served with gravy sauce
    My gravy is very basic, but oh so yummy!

    Can I freeze these meatballs?

    Yes yes yes!
    I usually make a batch in advance and then freeze them when still raw.
    No need to defrost: cook them like you'd normally do, it will take just a little longer.

    You can also try to cook them, then freeze and when you want to consume them, heat them into the oven! I suggest to make gravy afterwards.

    Swedish meatballs on mashed potatoes
    This is what we eat when we want a richer but still healthy meal!

    If you make this recipe, please be sure to give it a rating and leave a comment! It would make me so happy!  🙂

    Remember: if you try one of my recipes, tag me on Instagram or DM me the photos! 


    Don’t forget to pin and share this easy and delicious recipe!

    Easy Swedish meatballs into a bowl with mashed potatoes

    Easy Swedish Meatballs And Simple Gravy

    You will fall in love with these easy Swedish meatballs and their extremely simple gravy sauce: few ingredients, lot of flavor, done in 30 minutes!
    Print Pin
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 18 minutes
    Total Time: 28 minutes
    Servings: 23 meatballs
    Author: Roberta

    Ingredients

    For the meatballs:
    • 400 gr Ground beef and pork
    • 85 gr Minced onion - (approximately)
    • 1 Egg yolk
    • 50 gr Breadcrumbs
    • Salt
    • Black pepper
    • 5 gr Extra virgin olive oil
    • 5 gr Unsalted butter
    For the gravy:
    • 10 gr Cornstarch
    • 250 gr Meat or veggie broth
    • 25 gr Milk
    • ½ tablespoon Soy sauce

    Instructions

    • First: did you know you can BOOKMARK this recipe and others so you can find them more easily?:) Takes seconds: you can log in (also w/ gmail) via that small icon on the right bottom corner.
    For the meatballs:
    • Add all the ingredients (except butter and oil) to a bowl and combine with your hands.
    • When well combined, take an ice cream scoop and form meatballs: each scoop needs then to be divided in two. You'll get 23 meatballs.
    • You can now freeze or cook them.
    • To cook: in a pan, heat butter and oil at medium heat, then carefully place all your meatballs on the pan. Let them brown on one side.
    • Flip them and let brown on the other side, then lower the heat and cover.
    • Let them cook for about 10 minutes or until ready (no more pink inside!)
    • Transfer meatballs on a plate, keep the juices/fat**
      ** if the meatballs absorbed all the fats, add 10 extra gr of butter.
    • In the same pan, add 10 gr of cornstarch and stir with a small whisk.
    • Gradually add broth, then milk. KEEP whisking or lumps will form. Add soy sauce.
    • After a couple of minutes, add cooked meatballs.
    • Let gravy thicken.
    • You're easy Swedish meatballs are ready!

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Swedish Meatballs And Simple Gravy
    Amount Per Serving (1 meatball)
    Calories 40 Calories from Fat 18
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 2g3%
    Carbohydrates 2g1%
    Protein 4g8%
    * Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @roberta.dallalba on Instagram or DM me!

    If you liked this recipe I think you will love this Swedish dessert: my healthier cardamom buns!

    Cinnamon cardamom buns recipe

    © Healthy Little Cravings – Roberta Dall’Alba.
    I own all content and photos’ copyright.

    Before using my photos and recipes, please email me.
    If you would like to republish a recipe, please link back to this post and re-write the instructions in your own words.

    « Easy Creamy Soup With Beets And Ginger
    How To Make Fluffy Pancakes (Guide) »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Pamela says

      February 14, 2023 at 10:28 am

      5 stars
      Fourth time (4 weeks in a row) I am making these this, WE LOVE THEM!!!!!!

      Reply
      • Roberta says

        February 15, 2023 at 10:38 am

        This makes me so happy Pamela!!

        Reply
    2. Gray says

      October 30, 2022 at 11:18 am

      5 stars
      I made the gravy with some meatballs I had in the freezer and wow!!!! Talk about kicking the meal up a notch!!! I never thought about adding soy sauce to my gravy before but it was perfect!!! Will deffo be doing this again

      Reply
      • Roberta says

        October 31, 2022 at 9:55 pm

        YOU MADE MY DAY! Thanks for trying them!:) they're quite an obsession around here!:)

        Reply
    3. Mandyb says

      November 10, 2020 at 8:01 pm

      5 stars
      I made the gravy as I bought the ikea meatballs
      The gravy turned out really well especially not needing the cream
      Lovely

      Reply
      • Roberta says

        November 10, 2020 at 8:02 pm

        Ahahah yayyyy *_*
        Thanks for making it Mandy!
        x
        Roberta

        Reply
    4. Jessica | 28-Day Keto Challenge says

      June 12, 2020 at 4:37 pm

      WOW WOW WOW! I’m blown away by how good this turned out. My entire family loved it. I want to say ive made swedish meatballs 3 other times in my lifetime(one of which being a vegan version) and this recipe is by far the best batch i’ve ever prepared. All the times i made swedish meatballs the recipe didnt called for dijon mustard and that was the missing factor for that sour kick(i added extra dijon to my servings). Thanks so much for sharing this recipe. Next time i’ll sub the pork for turkey as i ought to be eating kosher.

      Reply
      • Roberta says

        June 12, 2020 at 6:17 pm

        Wow Jessica thanks you made my day!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Valutazione ricetta




    Primary Sidebar

    SEARCH

    HEY, I’M ROBERTA

    My mission is to inspire you eating wholesome delicious food and embrace a healthy lifestyle all-round. Oh, don't forget to indulge sometimes!
    • My recipes are easy & nourishing. I always use seasonal ingredients. •

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Trending recipes

    How To Make Vanilla Pudding Without Eggs

    A delicious vanilla pudding without eggs into a glass.

    Japanese Milk Buns Recipe With Chocolate Chips (+ Video)

    The Ultimate (Easy) Cookie Box For Christmas / 1 Dough, 4 Recipes

    Most beautiful cookie box for Christmas

    How To Make Homemade Vanilla Yogurt

    Multiple bowls of berries, granola and yogurt and a napkin.

    Copyright © 2023 · Healthy Little Cravings · Privacy Policy

    • Italian
    • English